MMIA: Aviation Union appeals to FG, NASS to address security breaches by customs officers

One of the unions in the aviation industry, the  Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, ANAP has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to take immediate action in addressing the breach of security by security operatives at the Hajj and Cargo terminal of the Lagos airport.

The union who is particular about officials of the customs service says, the forceful breach of classified security restricted areas at Airports by custom Officers has become serious threat to safety and security of Aviation Workers and Airport users in general.

In a statement signed by ANAP’s Secretary General, Comrade Abdulrazak Saidu, the union says, the Custom Officers must be called to order to avoid Industrial Crisis by Aviation Workers Trade Unions.

The union states that, their concern is as a result of persistent provocation and threat to the lives of Aviation workers and Airport users while on duty at the classified security restricted areas at Airports where some previous tendencies ended in death.

“Arising from their dastardly acts of impurity, people has lost their lives and some received body damages while on duty”.

The statements also notes that, if this type of breach of security persist, it shall send a bad signal to the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO and the Aviation Community in general which could also affect the current Category One Certificate being enjoyed by Nigeria.

It adds that, if this impurity acts by Custom Officers are not stopped, they will have no other option than to take Labour action as they may deem fit to checkmate the inhumane treatment of FAAN Aviation Security, AVSEC by the Custom Officials at the Airports.

“We again call on the Federal Government and NASS including Custom Service Management to do the needful by calling their Custom Officers to ORDER so as to avoid a National Industrial Strike which could emerge out of provocation by Aviation Workers to be lead by their Aviation Trade Unions. Enough is Enough”.

On January 20, 2022, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria raised an alarm over breach of security by customs officers on the entourage of Customs Area Comptroller who forcefully gained access to the Security Restricted Area (SRA) via gate 3 of the terminal.

FAAN says, while accessing the gate, the  armed escorts to the Comptroller threatened to beat up the AVSEC officers at the gate if they dare resist their assault and breach of security.